What is the first thing you notice when you walk into a living room? Do your eyes gravitate to that big, beautiful fireplace or those tall windows with views of the mountains outside? Or maybe it’s those two couches sitting in front of an electric fireplace.
But what if there isn’t enough space for all these things and other furniture, like a dining table and chairs? It can be really hard to make a small living room feel spacious and inviting. And even harder for design ideas to come flowing out of our heads!
So, we’ve put together 10 tips to help give your cozy little living room some personality without sacrificing its size:
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Make the Right Sofa Choice
This is perhaps the most important aspect of small living room ideas. A large sofa will eat up most of your space and make your room seem smaller than it really is. And a more compact sectional can leave you with leftover floor space for other features like coffee tables, side tables, or even an ottoman!
A neutral sofa can make the small space seem bigger, while darker hues will swallow the room. When shopping for throw pillows, sofa slipcovers by Mamma Mia Covers, and cushions, make sure they have bolder shades so that the room doesn’t feel too bland.
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Go for Multifunctional Furniture
An ottoman that doubles as a storage box, a coffee table with hidden drawers, or even a wall-mounted desk can help you make the most of your small living room ideas. Furniture that has more than one function will take up less space and offer more storage opportunities to boot!
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Light It Up!
Don’t forget about lighting in your living room design ideas! Just like dark colors can make a space seem smaller than it is, light colors can do just the opposite. If you’re looking to brighten things up without opening your small living room windows for natural light, you can always opt for a chandelier or pendant lamp.
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Open Up the Space With Mirrors
Mirrors and reflective surfaces like glass coffee tables will make your room look bigger than it actually is! This is because when you look at a mirror, it basically reflects an infinite amount of space around you.
Mirrors are particularly great for smaller rooms that are long and narrow. They’ll make the room look wider than it is, helping you avoid a boxy appearance. Additionally, you can use mirrors to reflect light and create the illusion of more space.
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Think Vertical
When decorating a small living room, it’s important to think vertically! Hang curtains high enough so that they don’t touch the floor, and opt for shelves and wall-mounted cabinets over bulky furniture. This will help you make use of every inch of available space.
Thinking vertically also means using tall furniture like bookcases and cabinets to create separation between different areas of the room. This will make your living room feel more spacious and organized.
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Incorporate Plants
Adding plants to your small living room design ideas is a great way to add some life (literally) to the room, while also helping to clean the air. Not only do they take up very little space, but they also come in all shapes and sizes, so you’re sure to find one that fits your style.
Plants can also help to bring some color into the room, which is always a good thing. Just make sure you water them regularly!
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Create Visual Interest
One of the best ways to make a small living room seem bigger is by using lots of different textures and patterns. This will create visual interest and keep the eye moving around the space. So go ahead and mix stripes with florals, metallic with wood tones, and more.
The more visual interest you can pack into a small living room, the bigger it will seem.
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Add Some Artwork
One of the easiest and most affordable ways to add personality to your small living room ideas is by hanging some artwork on the walls. Choose pieces that are interesting and unique, and make sure they match the tone and style of your space.
If you’re not much of an artist yourself, don’t worry! There are plenty of stores that sell affordable prints and posters that will perfectly fit your small living room design scheme.
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Keep Furniture to Scale
You might think that bringing all of your favorite pieces into the mix would help fill out your cozy little home, but unfortunately, this isn’t usually what happens when we try to stuff everything from our old house into our new one. Don’t worry, though – there are ways around it! If you have large-scale furniture like an armoire or entertainment center, try to downsize your other pieces so that everything doesn’t look too bulky and out of place.
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Add Some Plants
Houseplants are a great way to add life (literally) to any room and can really help make small living rooms feel more inviting. Not only do they offer natural beauty, but many plants also act as air purifiers! If you’re not sure which plants would be best for your space, check out this list of low-maintenance plants that are perfect for small homes.
Bonus Tip: Opt for Built-in Everything
One of the best ways to make the most of a small living room is by opting for furniture that has built-in features. This could mean choosing a sectional with storage capabilities or opting for a coffee table with hidden drawers.
You can also get creative and use shelves and cabinets to create storage space where there might not be any. By using furniture that has built-in features, you’ll free up more space in your living room and avoid having to clutter it up with extra pieces.
Final Thoughts
Tiny living room ideas don’t have to be a total nightmare! By implementing some of these simple design tricks, you can make your small space feel more open, inviting, and functional. Also, don’t be afraid to play around with different color schemes and textures. After all, the more personality you can pack into a small living room, the better it will feel!
So what are you waiting for? Start decorating your small living room today.